Side sway brace for gondola bulkhead

ABSTRACT

A bracing arrangement particularly useful for adapting a gondola type railroad car for the shipment of sheet steel or the like. The car is equipped with gondola bulkheads. Each bulkhead is provided with attachment means that permit the detachable connection of side sway braces to the bulkhead faces for holding the transported material against transverse movement. In addition, the attachment means of the bulkhead afford a detachable connection for face spacers that space the face of the load a distance from the bulkhead sufficient to permit the insertion of a sling for loading and unloading. In an embodiment of the invention, the face spacers incorporate relatively movable parts with a wedging arrangement so as to permit easy withdrawal for unloading.

United States Patent [191 Beeson 1 SIDE SWAY BRACE FOR GONDOLA BULKHEAD [75] Inventor: Harry E. Beeson, Livonia, Mich.

[73] Assignee: Evans Products Company,

Plymouth, Mich.

[22] Filed: Apr. 2, 1973 [211 App]. No.: 346,754

[52] US. Cl. 105/376 [51] Int. Cl B6ld 45/00 [58] Field of Search 105/367, 369 B, 369 5, 105/376 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,501,420 3/1950 Steins 105/369 B 2,657,644 11/1953 Pierce 105/367 X 2,894,461 7/1959 Nagler 105/367 3,336,069 8/1967 Bayer et al. 105/369 B X 3,392,683 7/1968 Loomis et a1. 105/376 X 3,590,747 7/1971 Solomonson 8! al. 105/376 June 28, 1974 Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant Examiner-Gene A. Church Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Harness, Dickey Pierce [5 7] ABSTRACT A bracing arrangement particularly useful for adapting a gondola type railroad car for the shipment of sheet steel or the like. The car is equipped with gondola bulkheads. Each bulkhead is provided with attachment means that permit the detachable connection of side sway braces to the bulkhead faces for holding the transported material against transverse movement. In addition, the attachment means of the bulkhead afford a detachable connection for face spacers that space the face of the load a distance from the bulkhead suf ficient to permit the insertion of a sling for loading and unloading. ln an embodiment of the invention, the face spacers incorporate relatively movable parts with a wedging arrangement so as to permit easy withdrawal for unloading.

20 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUH28 1814 7 3820.475

saw a or 4 Q SIDE SWAY BRACE FOR GONDOLA BULKHEAD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a freight bracing system for a cargo carrying vehicle and more particularly to an improved side sway bracing arrangement that may be detachably connected to a face of a bulkhead and to a spacer device that is adapted to hold the load at a spaced distance from either the bulkhead or an end wall so as to provide a clearance to pass a lifting sling or the like.

The shipment of sheet material such as sheet steel has presented considerable difficulties. One normal method for shipping such material is in a railway car of the gondola type. To adapt such cars for this type of shipping it has been proposed to provide bulkheads in the gondola car that engage the ends of the shipped material to hold it against longitudinal movement. The shipped material, however, varies in transverse width. Some arrangement must be provided, therefore, to hold the load against transverse movement. The arrangements heretofore proposed for this purpose, such as blocking or the like, is not completely satisfactory.

It is, therefore, a principal object of the invention to provide an improved device for providing transverse bracing usable with a bulkhead.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved side sway brace that may be detachably connected in a plurality of positions to the face of a bulkhead assembly.

Gondola cars, as is well known, have open tops and are loaded and unloaded through this opening. With the use of bulkheads to hold load against longitudinal movement, unloading is difficult. That is, the load will be tightly wedged against the face of the bulkhead at the shipment point and it is difficult to place a chain or other sling under the load to remove it.

It is, therefore, another object of this invention to provide a face spacer usable with a bulkhead or the like to space the load a sufficient distance from the bulkhead face so as to facilitate loading and unloading.

It is another object of the invention to provide a face spacer that may be easily removed at the destination even though the load may have shifted firmly against it.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A first feature of this invention is adapted to be embodied in a freight bracing system for a cargo transporting vehicle that includes a bulkhead assembly that is supported for movement along the cargo area of the vehicle to predetermined freight bracing positions. The bulkhead has a face adapted to be juxtaposed to freight for assisting in bracing the freight against movement in a direction perpendicular to the face. A side sway brace is also provided for holding the freight against movement in a direction normal to the bulkhead face. Means provide a detachable connection between the side sway brace and the bulkhead for locking the side sway to the bulkhead.

Another feature of the invention is adapted to be embodied in the spacer device that is detachably connected to a supporting member and interposed between the supporting member and a freight load. The spacer device is comprised of a first member having means at one side thereof for effecting the detachable connection to the supporting member and an inclined surface along its opposite side. The inclined surface is adapted to be juxtaposed to the associated freight load and converges toward the freight load in a downward direction. A second member of the spacer device is interposed between the first member and the freight load. The second member has an inclined surface complementary to and engaged with the inclined surface of the first member and an opposed surface adapted to engage the freight load. The inclined surfaces of the two members cooperate to permit easy withdrawal of the second member even though the load may have shifted firmly against it in transit. Cooperating means on the first and second members prevent movement in a direction transverse to their inclined surfaces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view showing a Gondola type railroad car embodying this invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the car, with portions broken away.

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged view taken in the direction of the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 with further portions broken away.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view, still further enlarged, taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3 showing one of the side sway braces.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view showing one of the face spacers.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 77 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the face spacer taken in a direction similar to that of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 99 of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the drawings the reference numeral 11 indicates generally a railway car of the gondola type embodying this invention. The car, as is well known in this art, is comprised of spaced side walls 12 and 13 and end walls 14 and 15 that define an open topped cargo receiving area. A plurality of gondola bulkhead assemblies, indicated generally by the reference numerals 16, l7, l8 and 19 are positioned in the car 11.

The car side walls 12 and 13 are provided with longitudinally extending tracks 21 and 22 that are provided with apertures 23 to receive the teeth 224 of cog wheels 25. The cog wheels 25 are fixed to opposite ends of a timing shaft 26 that is journalled in each of the respective bulkhead assemblies 16 through 19 for supporting the bulkhead assemblies for longitudinal movement along the car 11.

On each side wall 12 and 13 above and below the tracks 21 and 22 locking strips 27 and 28 are provided. The locking strips 27 and 28 are each formed with a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings 29 that are adapted to receive pin portions 31 of upper and lower locking pins 32 and 33 that are slidably supported at the upper and lower corners of each bulkhead assembly 16 through 19. The locking pins 32 and 33 are adapted to be moved between a locked position as shown in the drawings and a released position by means including a handle mechanism 34. The construction of each of the gondola bulkhead assemblies 16, 17, 18 and 19 is conventional and will not be described in further detail. Reference may be had to US. Pat. No. 3,590,747, entitled Bulkhead Assemblies For Gondola Cars, issued July 6, 1971 in the name of Gerald L. Solomonsomfor the construction of a gondola bulkhead assembly with which this invention may be used.

When the bulkhead assemblies 16, 17, 18 and 19 are in engagement with the opposite longitudinal ends of the freight to be braced, they will prevent any substantial longitudinal movement. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, however, the freight loading units may be narrower than the distance between the car side walls 12 and 13. Unless some structure is provided preventing transverse movement, the load can shift in this direction and cause damage. This damage may occur to either the load, the freight car or the bulkhead assembly. Furthermore, the transverse shifting of the load may even .cause the car 11 to become upset.

Side sway braces, indicated generally by the reference numerals 35 are provided which may be detachably affixed to the bulkhead assembly 16, 17, 18 and 19,

and/or to the car end walls 14 and 15 to resist this transverse movement. The side sway braces 35 have a construction which may be best understood by reference to FIGS. 2 through 5. The braces 35 include a vertically extending structural member 36 that has a short leg 37 and a long leg 38. The outer ends of the legs 37 and 38 are formed with short flanges 39 and 4], respectively, for stiffening. In addition, a plurality of vertically spaced gussets 42 span the legs 37 and 38 and are affixed to them, as by welding, to further reinforce the side sway brace 35. Contiguous to the upper and lower ends of the member 36 a pair of bolts 43 extend through respective apertures 44 in the leg 37 of the member 36. Bolts 43 are threaded into respective nuts 45 that are welded to generally channel shape members 46. I am nuts 47 are threaded on to the bolts 43 to hold them in axial position. A portion of the shank of the bolts 43 extends beyond the leg 37 of the member 36, for a reason which will become apparent.

The'opposite faces of each of the bulkhead assemblies 16 through 19 is formed with a plurality of keyhole shaped openings 48. The openings 48 are arranged in upper and lower. sets each offset slightly from the other in a transverse direction. Selected ones of the openings 48 are adapted to receive the bolts 43 so as to afford a detachable connection between the side sway braces 35 and the respective bulkhead assemblies 16 through 19.

The sets of openings 48 provide a fine pitch splitting type of adjustment for the transverse location of the side sway braces 35 on the respective bulkhead faces. If desired, the car end walls may carry horizontally extending channels 49 that are also formed with sets of openings 51 so as to permit the attachment of side sway braces 35 to each of the end walls.

Face spacer assemblies, indicated generally by the reference numeral 52 also may be detachably connected to the opposite faces of the bulkhead assembly 16 through 19 and to the end wall attached channels 49 to assist in the loading and unloading and bracing of the transported freight. The face spacing assemblies 52 are best illustrated in FIGS. 6 through 9. The face spacer assemblies 52 include a first member 53 comprised of a generally channel shaped part 54. Nested within the channel shaped part 54 is a wedge shaped block of lumber 55 having its outer face covered by a piece of sheet steel 56 that is welded or otherwise affixed to the member 54. The block 55 and piece 56 fonn an inclined outer surface 57. A pair of rivets or bolts 58 are fixed to the member 53 and project outwardly for selectively entering into the bulkhead apertures 48 or into the apertures S1 of the channels 49 affixed to the end walls 14 and 15. Thus, the member 53 may be detachably connected to either side of the bulkhead assemblies 16 through 19 or the end walls 14 and 15 in any desired location.

A second member 59 is slidably supported between the outwardly extending legs of the part 54. The member 59 includes a lumber piece 61 having a downwardly tapering surface that is juxtaposed to the surface 57. A channel shaped piece of structural steel 62 is affixed to one side of the piece 61 is adapted to abuttingly engage the freight load, as will become apparent. A second channel shaped piece of structural steel 63 is affixed to the opposite side of the lumber piece 61. The piece 63 tapers downwardly and defines an inclined surface 64 that is complementary to and adapted to engage the surface 57 of the piece 53.

The member 59 carries a steel rod 65 that extends transversely across its upper end. The rod 65 is adapted to enter into notches 66 formed at the upper ends of the outwardly extending legs of the piece 54 so as to limit downward movement. Lugs 67 and 68 are affixed to the member 53 adjacent its upper end, for a purpose to be described.

The loading operation may be best understood by reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. A first load unit, indicated generally by the reference numeral 71 is to be inserted adjacent the car end wall 14. A pair of the face spacers 52 are mounted on the channels 49 secured to the end wall 14 in a location between the outer edges of the load unit 71. When the face spacers 52 are mounted on the end wall 14 the load unit 71 is put in place in abutment with the channel 62 of the face spacers 52. In order to facilitate removal of the chain cables or lifting swing used to put the load unit used in place, the wedge members 59 of the face spacers 52 are removed to offer sufficient clearance to permit this withdrawal. The wedge members 59 are then reinserted.

Side sway braces 35 may then be inserted onto the appropriate openings in the endwall 14 so as to engage the sides of the load unit 71. If side sway'braces 35 are used in conjunction with the face spacers 52, the side sway braces must extend a sufficient distance from the end wall 14 so as to engage the spaced sides of the load unit 71.

Once the aforenoted procedure has been completed, the bulkhead assembly 16 is rolled to a position in which it abuttingly engages the opposite end and load unit 71. The bulkhead assembly 16 is then locked in position. Side sway braces 35 are then inserted on to the appropriate apertures 48 in the adjacent face of the bulkhead assembly 16. No face spacing devices are required at this location, for a reason which will become apparent. The second load unit, indicated generally by the reference numeral 72, is then installed. Face spacer devices 52 are affixed to the adjacent face of the bulkhead assembly in the manner aforedescribed and the load unit 72 is then put in place. As aforenoted appropriately sized side sway braces 35 may then be assembled on to the bulkhead 16 to hold the load unit 72 against transverse movement. The bulkhead assembly 17 is then moved into place to engage the opposite end of the load unit 72 and further side sway braces are installed. Assuming that the load units 71 and 72 occupy approximately one half of the car, loading is then commenced from the opposite end. A load unit 73 is positioned adjacent the end wall and is held in place by face spacing assemblies 52 and side sway braces that are affixed to the end wall 15. The bulkhead assembly 19 is then moved into place and further side sway braces 35 attached to it.

A final load unit 74 is placed into the car 11 and is braced in the manner aforedescribed. The bulkhead assembly 18 engages the end of the load unit 74 opposite to the bulkhead assembly 19. A small gap 75 will then exist between the two adjacent bulkhead assemblies 17 and 18. The size of this gap will, of course, depend upon the size of the various load units placed in the car 11.

To unload the car, either the bulkhead assembly 17 or the bulkhead assembly 18 is moved from engagement with the respective load unit 72 or 74. This will provide a gap through which cables, chains or the like may be passed under the respective load unit. At this time, the members 59 may be easily removed by drawing them upwardly. This will relieve some of the frictional force tending to resist removal of the load. Once the face spacer device member 59 is removed, sufficient space is created to pass the cables, chains or the like used to lift the load from position. The car may then be unloaded in a manner which is believed to be obvious.

It should be readily apparent that the described construction permits a wide degree of versatility and yet accomplishes effective loading and bracing. Although an arrangement has been described in which face spacing devices are only provided at one end of each load unit, such devices may be provided at both ends. Alternatively, the face spacing devices may be eliminated or need not be of the wedge type. The detachable braces may also have different shapes than those illustrated. Specifically, the detachable braces may be configured so as to engage special shaped loads.. For example, the braces may present a curved configuration so as to engage the curved side of a coil of steel. In some instances it may be desirable to employ side sway braces that have a channel shape rather than the angular configuration of the illustrated embodiment. By employing channel shaped side sway braces, the braces may be interposed between two adjacent load units so as to provide transverse spacing between such load units. Various other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A freight bracing system for a cargo transporting vehicle comprising a bulkhead assembly, means for supporting said bulkhead assembly for movement along the vehicle cargo area to predetermined freight bracing positions, said bulkhead having face adapted to be juxtaposed to freight for assisting in bracing the freight against movement in a direction perpendicular to said face, a side sway brace, and means for providing a detachable connection between said side sway brace and said bulkhead for locking said side sway brace to said bulkhead to brace freight in a direction normal to said bulkhead face.

2. A freight bracing system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means for providing the detachable connection accommodates positioning of the side sway brace in any of a plurality of normal directions upon the bulkhead.

3. A freight bracing system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the means for providing the detachable connection comprise cooperating interlocking means carried by the side sway members and by the bulkhead.

4. A freight bracing system as set forth in claim 3 wherein the cooperating interlocking means comprise headed pins fixed to the side sway brace and cooperating keyhole shaped openings formed in the bulkhead.

5. A freight bracing system as set forth in claim 4 further including a face spacer detachably connected to the bulkhead and adapted to be interposed between the bulkhead face and the load for holding the load in a spaced relationship relative to said bulkhead.

6. A freight bracing system as set forth in claim 5 wherein the face spacing device comprises a first member adapted to be detachably connected to the bulkhead and a second member interposed between said first member and the load, said first and'said second members having cooperating inclined surfaces for facilitating withdrawal .of said second member from between the bulkhead and the load.

7. A freight bracing system as set forth in claim 5 wherein the means on the bulkhead for providing the detachable connection to the side sway brace and to the face spacing device permits attachment of either side sway brace or' said face spacing device to said bulkhead.

8. A freight bracing system as set forth in claim 7 wherein the means for providing the detachable connection comprise openings formed in the face of the bulkhead and headed pins affixed to each of the side sway brace and the face spacing device.

9. A freight bracing system as set forth in claim 8 wherein the face spacing comprises a first member adapted to be detachably connected to the bulkhead and a second member interposed between said first member and the load, said first and said second members having cooperating inclined surfaces for facilitating withdrawal of said second member from between the bulkhead and the load.

10. A freight bracing system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the side sway brace comprises a generally L- shaped member having one leg adapted to be juxtaposed to the bulkhead face and another leg juxtaposed to the load, and a plurality of gussets affixed to said legs. i

11. A freight bracing system as set. forth in claim 1 wherein the cargo transporting vehicle comprises a gondola type railroad car having an open top.

12. A freight bracing system as set forth in claim 11 wherein the means for providing the detachable connection accommodates positioning of the side sway brace in any of a plurality of normal directions upon the bulkhead.

13. A freight bracing system as set forth in claim 12 wherein the means for providing the detachable connection comprise cooperating interlocking means carried by the side sway members and by the bulkhead.

14. A freight bracing system as set forth in claim 13 wherein the cooperating interlockingmeans comprise headed pins fixed to the side sway brace and cooperating keyhole shaped openings formed in the bulkhead.

15. A face spacer device adapted to be detachably connected to a supporting member and interposed between the supporting member and a freight load, said spacer device comprising a first member having means at one side thereof for effecting a detachable connection to the supporting member and an inclined surface along the other side thereof, said inclined surface being adapted to be juxtaposed to the associated freight load, said inclined surface converging toward thefreight load from the top to the bottom of said first member, and a second member adapted to be interposed between said first member and the freight load, said second member having an inclined surface complementary to and engaged with the inclined surface of said first member and an opposed surface adapted to engage the freight load, said inclined surfaces cooperating to move the opposed surface of said second member transversely relative to the one side of said first member upon relative vertical movement for facilitating removal of said second member, and cooperating means on said first and said second members for precluding transverse movement therebetween.

16. A face spacer device as set forth in claim 15 wherein the cooperating means for precluding transverse movement comprises a channel carried by one of the members in which the other member is nested.

17. A face spacer device as set forth in claim 15 further including means carried by the members for limiting relative vertical movement therebetween.

18. A face spacer device as set forth in claim 17 wherein the means for limiting relative vertical movement comprises a load carried by the second member and engageable with cooperating stop means on the first member. 7

19. A face spacer device as set forth in claim 18 wherein the first member has a channel shape in which the second member is nested for precluding the transverse movement.

20. A face spacer device as set forth in claim 19 further including lifting lugs on the sides of said channel shaped member for facilitating insertion and removal of said face spacing device from the supporting memberi 

1. A freight bracing system for a cargo transporting vehicle comprising a bulkhead assembly, means for supporting said bulkhead assembly for movement along the vehicle cargo area to predetermined freight bracing positions, said bulkhead having face adapted to be juxtaposed to freight for assisting in bracing the freight against movement in a direction perpendicular to said face, a side sway brace, and means for providing a detachable connection between said side sway brace and said bulkhead for locking said side sway brace to said bulkhead to brace freight in a direction normal to said bulkhead face.
 2. A freight bracing system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means for providing the detachable connection accommodates positioning of the side sway brace in any of a plurality of normal directions upon the bulkhead.
 3. A freight bracing system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the means for providing the detachable connection comprise cooperating interlocking means carried by the side sway members and by the bulkhead.
 4. A freight bracing system as set forth in claim 3 wherein the cooperating interlocking means comprise headed pins fixed to the side sway brace and cooperating keyhole shaped openings formed in the bulkhead.
 5. A freight bracing system as set forth in claim 4 further including a face spacer detachably connected to the bulkhead and adapted to be interposed between the bulkhead face and the load for holding the load in a spaced relationship relative to said bulkhead.
 6. A freight bracing system as set forth in claim 5 wherein the face spacing device comprises a first member adapted to be detachably connected to the bulkhead and a second member interposed between said first member and the load, said first and said second members having cooperating inclined surfaces for facilitating withdrawal of said second member from between the bulkhead and the load.
 7. A freight bracing system as set forth in claim 5 wherein the means on the bulkhead for providing the detachable connection to the side sway brace and to the face spacing device permits attachment of either side sway brace or said face spacing device to said bulkhead.
 8. A freight bracing system as set forth in claim 7 wherein the means for providing the detachable connection comprise openings formed in the face of the bulkhead and headed pins affixed to each of the side sway brace and the face spacing device.
 9. A freight bracing system as set forth in claim 8 wherein the face spacing comprises a first member adapted to be detachably connected to the bulkheAd and a second member interposed between said first member and the load, said first and said second members having cooperating inclined surfaces for facilitating withdrawal of said second member from between the bulkhead and the load.
 10. A freight bracing system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the side sway brace comprises a generally L-shaped member having one leg adapted to be juxtaposed to the bulkhead face and another leg juxtaposed to the load, and a plurality of gussets affixed to said legs.
 11. A freight bracing system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the cargo transporting vehicle comprises a gondola type railroad car having an open top.
 12. A freight bracing system as set forth in claim 11 wherein the means for providing the detachable connection accommodates positioning of the side sway brace in any of a plurality of normal directions upon the bulkhead.
 13. A freight bracing system as set forth in claim 12 wherein the means for providing the detachable connection comprise cooperating interlocking means carried by the side sway members and by the bulkhead.
 14. A freight bracing system as set forth in claim 13 wherein the cooperating interlocking means comprise headed pins fixed to the side sway brace and cooperating keyhole shaped openings formed in the bulkhead.
 15. A face spacer device adapted to be detachably connected to a supporting member and interposed between the supporting member and a freight load, said spacer device comprising a first member having means at one side thereof for effecting a detachable connection to the supporting member and an inclined surface along the other side thereof, said inclined surface being adapted to be juxtaposed to the associated freight load, said inclined surface converging toward the freight load from the top to the bottom of said first member, and a second member adapted to be interposed between said first member and the freight load, said second member having an inclined surface complementary to and engaged with the inclined surface of said first member and an opposed surface adapted to engage the freight load, said inclined surfaces cooperating to move the opposed surface of said second member transversely relative to the one side of said first member upon relative vertical movement for facilitating removal of said second member, and cooperating means on said first and said second members for precluding transverse movement therebetween.
 16. A face spacer device as set forth in claim 15 wherein the cooperating means for precluding transverse movement comprises a channel carried by one of the members in which the other member is nested.
 17. A face spacer device as set forth in claim 15 further including means carried by the members for limiting relative vertical movement therebetween.
 18. A face spacer device as set forth in claim 17 wherein the means for limiting relative vertical movement comprises a load carried by the second member and engageable with cooperating stop means on the first member.
 19. A face spacer device as set forth in claim 18 wherein the first member has a channel shape in which the second member is nested for precluding the transverse movement.
 20. A face spacer device as set forth in claim 19 further including lifting lugs on the sides of said channel shaped member for facilitating insertion and removal of said face spacing device from the supporting member. 